Fernando Mendoza’s CFB journey got its biggest individual accolade on Saturday night when the Indiana quarterback was named the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner. It was indeed a just reward for the 22-year-old who powered the program to its most historic seasons ever.
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Mendoza led the Hoosiers to an undefeated 13-0 season, their first outright Big Ten title since 1945, and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. As far as individual glory is concerned, Mendoza paced the FBS with 39 total touchdowns and swept nearly every major honor along the way, including the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, and Associated Press Player of the Year.
After lifting the grand trophy in New York, Mendoza opened up about his achievements on LinkedIn, which, to be fair, has been a growing trend among players with business aspirations.
“This weekend, I was incredibly honored to be named the 2025 Heisman Trophy recipient,” Mendoza wrote. “I accept this honor with humility, gratitude, and a deep sense of responsibility.”
The Hoosiers QB went on to credit his family, coaches, and teammates before reflecting on his journey from “a kid in Miami chasing a dream.” Mendoza closed by making it clear the job isn’t finished: “I am proud to continue representing Indiana University Bloomington as we prepare for the College Football Playoff. On to the Rose Bowl!”
While the post was intended as a moment of reflection, it quickly became fuel for social media trolling, with Diego Pavia, the Heisman runner-up, catching strays from internet users.
“In a related story, Diego Pavia just joined LinkedIn so he can send his resume to DICKS, Walmart, and footlocker,” an X user took a sarcastic dig at Vanderbilt’s quarterback. Another added, “Diego start a LinkedIn yet?”
The rest piled on with similar cracks: “Someone tell Pavia to download LinkedIn, I have a feeling he’s gonna need it,” penned one. “Has Pavia updated his [LinkedIn] yet?” chimed in another.
Well, none of these jokes were random acts of trolling. They stem from the uncomfortable reality surrounding Pavia’s NFL draft outlook, which is already on shaky ground even before his controversial Heisman-night behavior.
Despite leading Vanderbilt to a historic 10-win season and finishing with over 4,000 total yards and 36 touchdowns, Pavia is widely viewed as a late-round pick or priority undrafted free agent.
At 24 years old on draft day, listed at 6-foot-0 (with many scouts believing he’s shorter), and reliant on a high-risk, structure-breaking play style, Pavia is already facing skepticism from NFL evaluators.
That scrutiny intensified after his emotional post-Heisman reaction, where he reposted a photo with an expletive directed at voters. He also appeared in a viral clip flipping off a sign aimed at Indiana. Though he later issued a public apology, the damage, at least optically, has lingered.
NFL teams value competitiveness, but they also demand composure. For executives already wary of Pavia’s size, the episode reinforced concerns about maturity and how his fiery personality might translate to a professional locker room.
And these aren’t empty concerns, too. We all saw how Shedeur Sanders’ draft stock dropped earlier this year due to similar accounts of cockiness.
In contrast, Mendoza’s LinkedIn post gives the impression that he is calm, professional, and forward-looking. So, it’s not surprising that most draft boards list him as a potential top-five pick.
Pavia has the next four months to work heavily on the optics because when it comes to the NFL Draft, perception can at times matter more than production.
